What about it? He was signed to a reasonable deal while Flacco just signed a $120 million deal. We will see if Schaub's struggles after Thanksgiving last year was a slump or an indication of declining skills or limited weapons. That being said, the Texans can get out from under his deal, if needed, without destroying their cap after next year.

Let's remember that the Texans went 12-4 and won a playoff game last year despite cleansing the team of cap issues that included a retooling of the offensive line, loss of a valuable TE. I was as frustrated as anyone with December and January, but, March is not the time to be myopic... Looking at the big picture, the GM is kicking butt!

Rick Smith seems to take quite a few pages from Belichik's personnel acquisition strategy, which is a good thing.

In 2009, the Pats traded Mike Vrabel and Matt Cassell to the Chiefs for the #34 pick, which netted them Patrick Chung. The more important thing; however, is that they rid themselves of $18M in cap space to resign Wilfork while avoiding cap hell.

The Texans traded Ryans to move up 12 spots in the third to select Brandon Brooks, and also received a 4th to draft B. Jones.
They took a short-term $2M cap hit but save $9M in future years; money that can be used for other needs.

They resigned Dobbins and acquired James (and later on Rudd) for cheap.
Without the injury to Cushing (and later on Sharpton), that move would have been proven even wiser.

The NFL is confirming that Rick Smith has become a shrewd S.O.B.... Look at how his very difficult and controversial decisions the past few seasons have turned out:

1. Dunta Robinson- Falcons cut him 3 years into that monster deal.

2. Asomugha- remember how many people wanted us to get him. Disaster for Phillie! Joseph was cheaper, younger, and has been much better.

3. Winston- Surprising cut by Houston last year. Less surprising, KC cut him this year.

4. Demeco- We got out from under that contract and received to mid round picks. A year later, Phillie is struggling to keep him and he was part of an awful defense.

5. I wanted Barwin signed before last year. Smith didn't and he's going to be cheaper now.

6. Briesel- hardly worth $20 million he received last year (and we are about to get a 5th or 6th round pick as compensation for not letting him destroy our cap)

7. Jason Allen? Didn't miss him and about to be rewarded a 6th round compensatory pick for him.

8. Mario- Anyone doubt that anymore? (plus a 3rd rounder this year)

9. Kareem Jackson pick- Not looking too bad after last season.

10. 10-11 picks this year in the draft.

11. Literally, according to my info, Texans have $73,000 of dead money this year. Wow!

To be fair to Winston, he's getting cut due to a change in philosophy under the new HC. He did just fine for the Chiefs last year.

The Mario situation became a best case scenario for us.

Asomugha is playing in a broken system. I'd speculate that he would've done great for the Texans, but Smith made the right decision with J-Joe. An added bonus is J-Joe's assistance with developing Kareem Jackson.

I think we would've been a better team with DeMeco, so it would've been nice if it had worked out. I can't say for certain if keeping him was possible, so maybe someone more familiar with the real cap limitations like Dutch Rudder can speak to that.

Overall, Rick Smith has done a great job managing the cap problem while acquiring enough quality talent (J-Joe, Manning) to keep himself and Kubiak in good standing.

I think we would've been a better team with DeMeco, so it would've been nice if it had worked out. I can't say for certain if keeping him was possible, so maybe someone more familiar with the real cap limitations like Dutch Rudder can speak to that.

I still don't like getting rid of Demeco. Cushing missed serious time & Demeco would have been the perfect filler.

Having said that, I don't know how the OL would have turned out, with Caldwell struggling early, then getting injured himself. I'm excited about Ben Jones' future with the Texans.

You know what, you could very will be right because I don't really have a feel where Barwin's production is going to be in the next couple years no matter who he's playing ball for ? But I'm still of the opinion that he's gonna get a pretty strong deal just based upon those 2011 stats.

rick wanted asomugha, but he realized nnamdi was just f'n with him and went to plan b in Joseph. let's not pretend he wanted JJo over nnamdi.

I can say with confidence that you are wrong about that. I was following the team very closely two years ago, and it was clear the Texans were never serious about bidding for Asomugha. Still, it doesn't really matter. The Texans had the money to spend and could have offered Asomugha a deal he would have accepted. They chose not to, choosing instead to allocate the money towards the combination of Joseph and Manning. It was a good decision.

If JJo was rick's main target, he would of been signed the day FA opened. Instead days went by and everyday a new team was rumored to go in along with the texans in the hunt for nnamdi. One day it was SF, then NYJ, then DAL, then Philly. Rick was all in on Asomugha until he realized it wasn't going to happen and he would lose out on other top CB free agents if he kept waiting.

I can say with confidence that you are wrong about that. I was following the team very closely two years ago, and it was clear the Texans were never serious about bidding for Asomugha. Still, it doesn't really matter. The Texans had the money to spend and could have offered Asomugha a deal he would have accepted. They chose not to, choosing instead to allocate the money towards the combination of Joseph and Manning. It was a good decision.

I can say with confidence you have no idea what was going on in the Texans FO at that time. There were many reports at the time saying that we were one of 3-4 teams in the running. We bailed when Aso decided to take his time in making a decision.

__________________Kubiak: "They’re battling their tail off."Translation: They suck.OB: "They played hard with great effort."Translation: They suck.